TORONTO – When the main point guard Immanuel Quickley took a break from the Toronto Raptors, it wasn't clear who would organize the team’s offense. All-star forward Scottie Barnes typically took on the play-making responsibilities with the team’s second group, but he was already injured with a broken hand.
Introduce six-foot-11 backup center Kelly Olynyk.
“Someone has to do it,” chuckled Olynyk on Monday, a day after leading Toronto with 11 assists in a 135-120 loss to the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. “I’m just trying to help the young guys and make it a little easier for them.
“Get us some simple shots, some easy baskets, keep the flow of the offense a little bit because when you don’t have guys who make a lot of plays for others, it becomes stagnant and it’s tough to play like that.”
Olynyk, from Kamloops, B.C., may be modest about his contributions as a playmaker, but he has dished out 43 assists over his last five games, the most assists in a five-game span in his 11-season career. He’s had at least eight assists in a career-high four straight games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
“They’re running through me a lot more,” said Olynyk, who played point guard in high school. “I suppose I’m the main playmaker.
“We’ve got a bunch of shooters and cutters and different guys on the floor, but we’re kind of running through me at the top a lot more.”
Although Olynyk’s been handling the playmaking duties with Quickley (personal reasons), Barnes (broken hand) and swingman RJ Barrett (personal reasons) of Mississauga, Ont., out of the lineup, he’s also been promoted to starting center because Jakob Poeltl (torn ligament in hand) is also injured.
Barrett and Quickley were listed as probable when Toronto, who have lost 13 straight games, hosted the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday and will likely take over bringing the ball up the court, but Olynyk will continue to start at center with no timetable for Poeltl’s return.
“(Olynyk’s) very gifted. He’s one of those players that just have an amazing feel for the game,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “He’s patient.
“I think he’s doing a better job, especially lately, of taking care of the ball.”
Olynyk is not the only Toronto player tasked with doing something outside his comfort zone as the team deals with a host of injuries and other issues. Six-foot-five Garrett Temple has been serving as Olynyk’s backup at center with Poeltl and Jontay Porter (personal reasons) unavailable.
“He’s a point five right now,” said Rajakovic on the 37-year-old Temple’s conversion from small forward to center. “He’s just a very smart player, he knows the league, we really simplified our offensive playbook as well so it’s easier for guys to know what they’re doing and where to be on the court.
“Being organized is the biggest thing we need and can have now and he’s really good at recognizing and putting us in those situations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2024.
